Vendors reject official rates

Rawalpindi Deputy Commissioner (DC) Hassan Waqar Cheema, has announced the official prices of essential commodities in the district, including pulses, milk, yoghurt, roti (bread), mutton and beef.

However, the Grocery Merchants Association, Meat Welfare Union, Gawala Union and Naan Bai Association have rejected these official rates, terming them as unrealistic and comparable to "air-conditioned room rates".

They demanded that the Deputy Commissioner disclose a wholesale market or shop where they could purchase items at official prices, declining to sell items at official rates.

The new rate list has given the official prices of various essential commodities in the district. The official rate for white gram has been set at Rs308 per kg, while the open market rate is significantly higher at Rs410 per kg. Similarly, the official rate for black gram is Rs305 per kg, whereas the market rate is Rs400 per kg. The official rate for gram flour is Rs280 per kg, compared to the market rate of Rs340 per kg.

Daal Chana (split chickpeas) Moti is priced at Rs305 per kg officially, while the market rate is Rs350 per kg. Daal Chana Barik is officially priced at Rs285 per kg, with a market rate of Rs320 per kg.

Other lentils, such as Green Gram Beans (Daal Moong) are priced at Rs320 per kg officially, with a market rate of Rs390 per kg. Red lentil (Daal Masoor) is officially priced at Rs300 per kg, with a market rate of Rs385 per kg. Split black lentils (Daal Mash) are priced at Rs550 per kg officially, compared to the market rate of Rs620 per kg. Basmati rice is officially priced at Rs300 per kg, with a market rate of Rs400 per kg. The official rate for fresh milk is Rs190 per litre, while the market rate is Rs210 per litre. Yoghurt is priced at Rs200 per kg officially, compared to the market rate of Rs220 per kg.

Meat prices also vary significantly, with mutton priced at Rs1600 per kg officially, compared to the market rate of Rs2,250 per kg. Beef is officially priced at Rs800 per kg, with a market rate of Rs1,250 per kg. The red bread is priced at Rs14 officially, compared to the market rate of Rs20.

The leaders of all the organisations have collectively rejected the official rates announced by the DC.